Monthly Blog for Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologists, Students and Families

Fall Inspired Memory Games

by Bilingual Therapies on October 11, 2012

Fall Inspired Memory Games

Children of all ages adore using game play during sessions. Thinking outside of the box with a common game can open up a lot of possibilities. Making your own memory game for your unique set of goals is easy to do and can inspire children. In addition to this, you can make another set of the memory cards to let the child take them home for extended practice at home with their family.

Memory Games for Older Children

If you are working with older children, memory games with autumn themes can be easy to make. Pick a fun shape like leaves, pumpkins, ghosts, scarecrows, or apples to get started. Write vocabulary words on matching pairs and laminate so they can hold up to multiple uses. To make it a little more interesting and to tie into their native language, use matching words in their native language. This will bring pride and will certainly perk interests at home to practice. When you practice in sessions, have the child use the word to ask a question, or give a sentence. This will practice conversational skills and following directions.

Variety in Memory Games

For younger children, you can use fall shapes as mentioned above with themes on them. If you are working on colors, have colored dots on the flip side of the shape. When the child matches the two cards that are the same color, they can point out something in the room with that color. This can be done with shapes, letters, numbers, and any other age appropriate item. Matches to letters can have a fall word that has the letter sound and numbers can have items to count and practice another skills while working. Once matches are found, children can help to locate something within your room that have that color, contains that shape, or sounds like the letter “M” when you say it. This will allow for a lot of question asking and answering to promote confidence in conversational skills.

There is a lot of flexibility with this activity, and it can be used with a wide variety of age levels. There is no right or wrong way to make this game, you can sculpt it just the way to need it for your individual students’ needs. If you have enough time in your sessions, think about letting the child you are working with assist in making the game cards. They can cut them out, write words, color pictures, or any other item. This will allow for practice following directions different types of question and answer possibilities. Giving students some ownership will also make them more proud to share this activity when it goes home for extended practice. Remember to model what you would like them to do so they can share with family at home.